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He E, Xia X, Quan H, Leng P. Expression Significance of Estrogen Receptor ER-α36 in Breast Cancer Treated by Chemotherapy: A Meta-Analysis. Mol Biotechnol 2024; 66:991-999. [PMID: 38270756 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-01029-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor (ER) is a molecular marker and target for diagnosing and treating breast cancer (BC). ER-α36, a novel estrogen receptor subtype, involved in the proliferation, differentiation, metastasis, and invasion of tumor cells. It is closely linked to the progression of various cancers. Therefore, studying ER is of high significance in treating BC. In this study, we will investigate the changes in the expression level of ER-α36 in patients with BC treated by chemotherapy through meta-analysis, so as to evaluate the clinical value of ER-α36 in the prognosis of BC treated by chemotherapy. English databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and The Cochrane Library were searched to retrieve the articles published from the establishment of the database to April 2023. The keywords included chemotherapy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, breast cancer, estrogen receptor alpha, and ER-α36. Five suitable studies, encompassing 636 patients, were ultimately selected. The meta-analysis results revealed that, following the chemotherapy, the analysis of ER-α36 positive cases yielded an Odds Ratio (OR) of 0.42, a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.28-0.64 (Z = 4.00, P < 0.0001). Additionally, the analysis of cases exhibiting remission in BC demonstrated an OR of 2.22 (95% CI = 1.40-3.50, Z = 3.40, P = 0.0007). Compared to patients receiving single chemotherapy agents or those untreated with chemotherapy, the combined use of multiple chemotherapy drugs can significantly reduce the levels of ER-α36 in BC patients, enhancing the remission rate of BC. ER-α36 can serve as a critical indicator for assessing the prognosis of BC following chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enping He
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Cheng du Medical College, China National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, Chengdu, 610051, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Xuliang Xia
- Department of Thyroid Gland Breast Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Cheng du Medical College, China National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, Chengdu, 610051, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Hui Quan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Cheng du Medical College, China National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, Chengdu, 610051, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Ping Leng
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, Sichuan Province, China.
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2
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Wu G, Qi G, Liu Y, Gan J, Xie C, Wu Q, Cui W, Wang C, Wang Z. ER-α36 is involved in calycosin inhibition of IL-6 production in macrophages. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18037. [PMID: 37974543 PMCID: PMC10805506 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumour microenvironment (TME) is crucial for tumour development and progression. Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the TME can promote tumour progression and metastasis by releasing cytokines, such as IL-6. Calycosin, a phytoestrogen that is one of the active compounds in Radix Astragali, has been shown to inhibit tumour growth and metastasis. However, the underlying mechanism by which calycosin inhibits tumour growth remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of calycosin on IL-6 production in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)- and THP-1-derived macrophages and explore its potential mechanisms using co-immunoprecipitation, western blotting, immunofluorescence, chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays. We found that calycosin treatment substantially upregulated the expression of ER-α36, a variant of the ER, and reduced IL-6 production in macrophages. Mechanistically, ER-α36 physically interacted with NF-κBp65 and retained p65 in the cytoplasm to attenuate NF-κB function as an IL-6 transcriptional inducer. In conclusion, our result indicated that calycosin inhibited IL-6 production by enhancing ER-α36 expression and its interaction with p65, which attenuated NF-κB function as an IL-6 inducer. Therefore, calycosin can be developed as an effective agent for cancer therapy by targeting TAMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoli Wu
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Guangying Qi
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Jinfeng Gan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Chichu Xie
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Qi Wu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Wei Cui
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Chunhua Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Zhaoyi Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment Regulation, Department of Basic Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
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3
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Li H, Ge N, Guan X, Han C, Li Y, Shen L, Chen M, Zhang B, Qu C, Zou W. The location of estrogen receptor variant ER-α36 is associated with the invasion of glioblastoma. Steroids 2023; 194:109224. [PMID: 36924815 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2023.109224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common central nervous system tumor and is associated with poor outcomes. There have been no significant improvements in GBM mortality in recent decades. ER-α36 is a variant of ER-α66 that may be involved in carcinoma growth and proliferation via genomic and nongenomic mechanisms. This variant might play an essential role in tamoxifen resistance of several tumors. Previously, our laboratory found that ER-α36 is expressed in GBM and participates in proliferation; nevertheless, the role of ER-α36 in GBM invasion remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the effects of the ER-α36 modulator SNG162 on GBM growth and invasion. U251 cells, U87cells, and U87-36KD cells with knockdown of ER-α36 expression were cultured under the two-dimensional and the three-dimensional (3D) environments. GBM cells growth was examined by cell counting, flow cytometry, western blot, and MTT assays. Invasiveness was measured using confocal microscopy in the 3D environment. Growth of U87 cells with downregulated EGFR and ER-α36 expression was significantly reduced after treatment with 1 µM, 3 µM, and 5 µM of SNG162; growth inhibition in U251 cells was more potent than in U87 cells, although the expression level of ER-α36 in U251 cells was lower than in U87 cells. We found that 1 μM SNG162 suppressed E2-induced MAPK/ERK pathway activation in U87 cells. We also showed that SNG162 inhibited U87 cells invasion; however, it did not significantly affect U251 and U87-36KD cells invasion using the 3D culture method. Finally, we determined that ER-α36 was expressed in the nucleus of invading GBM cells, and SNG162 significantly inhibited the expression of ER-α36 in these cells. SNG162 inhibited the expression of EGFR on cell membranes of non-invasive GBM cells. These results suggest that SNG162 could be a therapeutic agent for GBM by targeting ER-α36.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Li
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Drug Discovery, School of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
| | - Nan Ge
- Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, National Joint Engineering Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Xin Guan
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Drug Discovery, School of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China; Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, National Joint Engineering Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Chao Han
- Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, National Joint Engineering Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Ying Li
- Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, National Joint Engineering Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Liming Shen
- Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, National Joint Engineering Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Mengmeng Chen
- Qingdao Re-store Life Science Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Bingqiang Zhang
- Qingdao Re-store Life Science Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Chao Qu
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Drug Discovery, School of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China; Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, National Joint Engineering Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
| | - Wei Zou
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Drug Discovery, School of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China; Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, National Joint Engineering Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China; Qingdao Re-store Life Science Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, China.
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Pan X, Song Z, Cui Y, Qi M, Wu G, Wang M. Enhancement of Sensitivity to Tamoxifen by Berberine in Breast Cancer Cells by Inhibiting ER-α36 Expression. Iran J Pharm Res 2022; 21:e126919. [PMID: 36060924 PMCID: PMC9420211 DOI: 10.5812/ijpr-126919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid purified from Chinese herbs, was verified to have antitumor effects. It has also been reported that berberine can enhance the anticancer effect of tamoxifen (TAM) in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cells; however, the involved underlying mechanism is still unclear. In the present study, the role of one variant of ER-α, ER-α36, in the TAM sensitizing effect of berberine was explored in TAM-resistant breast cancer cells. This study demonstrated that berberine potently sensitized TAM-resistant breast cancer cells, including TAM-resistant MCF7 and BT-474 cells, to TAM treatment. Additionally, this study showed that berberine could simultaneously suppress ER-α36 expression in TAM-resistant cells. However, when ER-α36 was knocked down in TAM-resistant cells, there was no significant TAM-sensitizing effect by berberine. Therefore, this study indicated that ER-α36 is involved in berberine's TAM-sensitizing effect on ER-positive breast cancer cells, which provided supporting data for the application of berberine in cancer therapy as an adjuvant agent for TAM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Pan
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Zhen Song
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Yue Cui
- University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, Shandong, China
| | - Ming Qi
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Guojun Wu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Molin Wang
- Department of Genetics and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
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5
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Qu C, Wang C, Li H, Li Y, Han C, Tao X, Guan X, Zhang Y, Chen M, Liu J, Zou W. Estrogen receptor variant ER-α36 facilitates estrogen signaling via EGFR in glioblastoma. Cell Biol Int 2022; 46:1759-1774. [PMID: 35930599 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a deadly and common primary brain tumor. Poor prognosis is linked to high proliferation and cell heterogeneity. Sex differences may play a role in patient outcome. Previous studies showed that ER-α36, a variant of the estrogen receptor (ER), mediated non-genomic estrogen signaling and is highly expressed in many ER-negative malignant tumors. ER-α36 also associates with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the cross talk between ER-α36 and EGFR in estrogen-mediated GBM cell proliferation. Here, we showed that ER-α36 was highly expressed and confirmed that ER-α36 co-labels with EGFR in human GBM samples using immunohistochemical techniques. We also investigated the mechanisms of estrogen-induced proliferation in ER-α-negative cell lines. We found that GBM cells showed varying responsive to mitogenic estrogen signaling which correlated with ER-α36 expression, and knockdown of ER-α36 diminished the response. Exposure to estrogen also caused upregulation of cyclin protein expression in vitro. We also found that low concentration of estrogen promoted SRC-Y-416 and inhibited SRC-Y-527 phosphorylation, corresponding with activated SRC signaling. Inhibiting SRC or EGFR abolished estrogen-induced mitogenic signaling, including cyclin expression and MAPK phosphorylation. Cumulatively, our results demonstrate that ER-α36 promotes non-genomic estrogen signaling via the EGFR/SRC/MAPK pathway in GBM. This may be important for the treatment of ER-α-negative GBMs that retain high level of ER-α36, since estrogen may be a viable therapeutic target for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Qu
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.,Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, National Joint Engineering Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Cui Wang
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.,Neurology Ward Three, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Hongyan Li
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Ying Li
- Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, National Joint Engineering Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Chao Han
- Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, National Joint Engineering Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaofeng Tao
- Neurology Ward Three, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Xin Guan
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.,Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, National Joint Engineering Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Yejun Zhang
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Meng Chen
- Qingdao Re-store Life Science Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, National Joint Engineering Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Wei Zou
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.,Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, National Joint Engineering Laboratory, Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.,Qingdao Re-store Life Science Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, China
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6
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Zhao B, Ye X, Yang Y, Wang Y, Wang R, Pan X, Wang M. Knockdown of ER-α36 expression inhibits glioma proliferation, invasion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 305:321-332. [PMID: 34331393 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor-α36 (ER-α36), a subtype of the estrogen receptor, is reported to play roles in tumorigenesis and tamoxifen resistance in several tumors, especially breast cancer. However, the role of ER-α36 in glioma proliferation and invasion remains unknown. Here, we explored the function of ER-α36 in glioma cells, using U87 and U251 cell lines. We found that ER-α36 was upregulated in glioma tissues compared to adjacent nontumor tissues. In U87 and U251 glioma cell lines, inhibition of ER-α36 expression by shRNA suppressed cell proliferation and invasion. In addition, the expression of an epithelial marker, ZO-1, was upregulated while that of one mesenchymal marker, N-cadherin, was downregulated with ER-α36 knockdown. We also found that inhibition of ER-α36 inactivated both PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK signals. Taken together, these data indicated that overexpression of ER-α36 is associated with glioma proliferation and progression but that inhibition of ER-α36 leads to suppressed invasion and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathway inactivation in glioma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Zhao
- Department of Genetics and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Science, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiang Ye
- Department of Neurology, Cadre Clinic, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yuanyuan Yang
- Department of Genetics and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Science, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Yuxing Wang
- Department of Genetics and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Science, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Ru Wang
- Department of Genetics and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Science, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaohua Pan
- Department of Breast and Thyroid surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Molin Wang
- Department of Genetics and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Science, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Jinan, China
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7
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Wang C, Zhang T, Wang K, Zhang S, Sun Q, Yang X. ER-α36 Promotes the Malignant Progression of Cervical Cancer Mediated by Estrogen via HMGA2. Front Oncol 2021; 11:712849. [PMID: 34336701 PMCID: PMC8317436 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.712849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Estrogen is proven to promote the malignant behaviors of many cancers via its receptors. Estrogen receptor alfa 36 (ER-α36) is a newly identified isoform of estrogen receptor alfa (ER-α), the role of ER-α36 in regulating the effects of estrogen and its potential impact on human cervical cancer is poorly understood. Methods Immunohistochemistry staining was used to evaluate the expression of ER-α36, estrogen receptor alfa 66 (ER-α66) and their prognostic values in cervical cancer. The effects of ER-α36 and ER-α66 on the proliferation and metastasis of cervical cancer were measured in vitro. A xenograft tumor assay was used to study the tumorigenesis role of ER-α36 in vivo. Furthermore, the functional gene at the downstream of ER-α36 was obtained via next-generation sequencing, and the biological functions of high mobility group A2 (HMGA2) in cervical cancer cells were investigated in vitro. Results ER-α36 was over-expressed in cervical cancer tissues and elevated ER-α36 expression was associated with poor prognosis in cervical cancer patients. High expression of ER-α36 promoted the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of cervical cancer cells mediated by estrogen, while silencing ER-α36 had the opposite effects. Further research showed that HMGA2 was a downstream target of ER-α36 in cervical cancer cells. The oncogenic effect of ER-α36 was attenuated after HMGA2 knockdown. Conclusions High expression of ER-α36 was correlated with a poor prognosis in cervical cancer by regulating HMGA2. ER-α36 could be a prognostic biomarker and a target for cervical cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Tianli Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Qing Sun
- School of Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xingsheng Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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8
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Wang Y, Pan X, Li Y, Wang R, Yang Y, Jiang B, Sun G, Shao C, Wang M, Gong Y. CUL4B renders breast cancer cells tamoxifen-resistant via miR-32-5p/ ER-α36 axis. J Pathol 2021; 254:185-198. [PMID: 33638154 DOI: 10.1002/path.5657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Tamoxifen (TAM) resistance is a significant clinical challenge in endocrine therapies for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer patients. Cullin 4B (CUL4B), which acts as a scaffold protein in CUL4B-RING ubiquitin ligase complexes (CRL4B), is frequently overexpressed in cancer and represses tumor suppressors through diverse epigenetic mechanisms. However, the role and the underlying mechanisms of CUL4B in regulating drug resistance remain unknown. Here, we showed that CUL4B promotes TAM resistance in breast cancer cells through a miR-32-5p/ER-α36 axis. We found that upregulation of CUL4B correlated with decreased TAM sensitivity of breast cancer cells, and knockdown of CUL4B or expression of a dominant-negative CUL4B mutant restored the response to TAM in TAM-resistant MCF7-TAMR and T47D-TAMR cells. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that CUL4B renders breast cancer cells TAM-resistant by upregulating ER-α36 expression, which was mediated by downregulation of miR-32-5p. We further showed that CRL4B epigenetically represses the transcription of miR-32-5p by catalyzing monoubiquitination at H2AK119 and coordinating with PRC2 and HDAC complexes to promote trimethylation at H3K27 at the promoter of miR-32-5p. Pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of CRL4B/PRC2/HDAC complexes significantly increased TAM sensitivity in breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our findings thus establish a critical role for the CUL4B-miR-32-5p-ER-α36 axis in the regulation of TAM resistance and have important therapeutic implications for combined application of TAM and the inhibitors of CRL4B/PRC2/HDAC complex in breast cancer treatment. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Xiaohua Pan
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Yanjun Li
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Ru Wang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Yuanyuan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Baichun Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Gongping Sun
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Changshun Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, PR China
| | - Molin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Yaoqin Gong
- Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
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9
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Wang X, Yuan C, Jin Y, Huang H, Sheng X, Wei W, Huang X, Li L, Lv K, Qiu Z, Liu L, Wang Z, Zeng S. ER-α36 mediates gastric cancer cell invasion. Int J Clin Exp Pathol 2020; 13:1550-1559. [PMID: 32782673 PMCID: PMC7414493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Estrogen evidently exerts a protective role against gastric cancer. Accordingly, we evaluated the relationship between the expression of the estrogen receptor ER-α36 and the clinicopathologic features in gastric cancer. ER-α36 expression levels differed among the tumor center, invasion front, and vascular metastases. The effects of E2β (17β-Estradiol, E2β) on invasion ability in SGC7901, High36 (with ER-α36 upregulation), and Low36 (with ER-α36 downregulation) cells were evaluated using Transwell assays. Furthermore, the c-Src signaling pathway was inhibited using PP2 and the effects on E2β-induced increases in E-cadherin, MMP2, and MMP9 were evaluated using western blotting. ER-α36, c-Src, MMP2, and E-cadherin levels were also evaluated in tumor xenografts. We found that 0.1 nM E2β promoted gastric cancer cell invasion by reducing E-cadherin expression and increasing MMP2 and MMP9 levels. The upregulation of ER-α36 promoted gastric cancer cell invasion and the downregulation of ER-α36 reduced the invasive ability of cells. The levels of ER-α36, c-Src, and MMP2 were the highest in tumor xenografts using High36 cells, intermediate in tumor xenografts using SGC7901 cells, and lowest in tumor xenografts using Low36 cells. The opposite results were obtained for E-cadherin expression. ER-α36 enhanced gastric cancer cell invasion by the activation of membrane-initiated c-Src signaling pathways. In particular, treatment with E2β and ER-α36 influenced gastric cancer cell invasion. Furthermore, c-Src was involved in the ER-α36-mediated estrogen signaling pathway and cell invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuming Wang
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin Medical UniversityGuilin, Guangxi, China
| | - Chunyan Yuan
- Department of Pathology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Yuan Jin
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin Medical UniversityGuilin, Guangxi, China
| | - Helin Huang
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin Medical UniversityGuilin, Guangxi, China
| | - Xia Sheng
- Department of Pathology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Wulin Wei
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin Medical UniversityGuilin, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiuxian Huang
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin Medical UniversityGuilin, Guangxi, China
| | - Linfang Li
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin Medical UniversityGuilin, Guangxi, China
| | - Kun Lv
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin Medical UniversityGuilin, Guangxi, China
| | - Zhaohui Qiu
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin Medical UniversityGuilin, Guangxi, China
| | - Lijiang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Wuhan 6th HospitalWuhan 430015, Hubei, China
| | - Zhaoyi Wang
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin Medical UniversityGuilin, Guangxi, China
| | - Sien Zeng
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin Medical UniversityGuilin, Guangxi, China
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10
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Ishii T, Warabi E. Mechanism of Rapid Nuclear Factor-E2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) Activation via Membrane-Associated Estrogen Receptors: Roles of NADPH Oxidase 1, Neutral Sphingomyelinase 2 and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). Antioxidants (Basel) 2019; 8:antiox8030069. [PMID: 30889865 PMCID: PMC6466580 DOI: 10.3390/antiox8030069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane-associated estrogen receptors (ER)-α36 and G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) play important roles in the estrogen’s rapid non-genomic actions including stimulation of cell proliferation. Estrogen via these receptors induces rapid activation of transcription factor nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a master regulator of detoxification and antioxidant systems, playing a key role in the metabolic reprogramming to support cell proliferation. This review highlights the possible mechanism underlying rapid Nrf2 activation via membrane-associated estrogen receptors by estrogen and phytoestrogens. Stimulation of ER-α36-GPER signaling complex rapidly induces Src-mediated transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) leading to a kinase-mediated signaling cascade. We propose a novel hypothesis that ER-α36-GPER signaling initially induces rapid and temporal activation of NADPH oxidase 1 to generate superoxide, which subsequently activates redox-sensitive neutral sphingomyelinase 2 generating the lipid signaling mediator ceramide. Generation of ceramide is required for Ras activation and ceramide-protein kinase C ζ-casein kinase 2 (CK2) signaling. Notably, CK2 enhances chaperone activity of the Cdc37-Hsp90 complex supporting activation of various signaling kinases including Src, Raf and Akt (protein kinase B). Activation of Nrf2 may be induced by cooperation of two signaling pathways, (i) Nrf2 stabilization by direct phosphorylation by CK2 and (ii) EGFR-Ras-PI 3 kinase (PI3K)-Akt axis which inhibits glycogen synthase kinase 3β leading to enhanced nuclear transport and stability of Nrf2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuro Ishii
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.
| | - Eiji Warabi
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.
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11
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Qu C, Ma J, Zhang Y, Han C, Huang L, Shen L, Li H, Wang X, Liu J, Zou W. Estrogen receptor variant ER-α36 promotes tamoxifen agonist activity in glioblastoma cells. Cancer Sci 2019; 110:221-234. [PMID: 30417588 PMCID: PMC6317923 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly infiltrative and malignant primary brain tumor. Despite aggressive therapy, patients with GBM have a dismal prognosis with median survival of approximately 1 year. Tamoxifen (TAM), a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), has been used to treat GBM for many years. ER‐α36 is a novel variant of estrogen receptor‐alpha66 (ER‐α66) and can mediate cell proliferation through estrogen or anti‐estrogen signaling in different cancer cells. Previously, we found that ER‐α36 was highly expressed in GBM and was involved in the tamoxifen sensitivity of glioblastoma cells. However, the molecular mechanism responsible has not been well established. Here, we found that ER‐α36 is highly expressed in glioblastoma specimens. We further found that ER‐α36 knockdown increased sensitivity of glioblastoma U87 cells to TAM and decreased autophagy in these cells. However, ER‐α36 overexpression decreased TAM sensitivity and induced autophagy. We also established TAM‐resistant glioblastoma U251 cells by a long‐term culture in TAM‐containing medium and found that TAM‐resistant cells showed a six‐fold increase of ER‐α36 mRNA expression and elevated basal autophagy. ER‐α36 knockdown in these TAM‐resistant cells restored TAM sensitivity. In addition, we recapitulated the physiologically relevant tumor microenvironment in an integrated microfluidic device, and U87 cells were treated with a gradient of TAM. We found that ER‐α36 expression is consistent with autophagy protein P62 in a three‐dimensional microenvironment. In summary, these results indicate that ER‐α36 contributes to tamoxifen resistance in glioblastoma cells presumably through regulation of autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Qu
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China.,Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.,Department of Pharmacological and Toxicological Research Centre, No. 210 Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Dalian, China
| | - Jingyun Ma
- Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yejun Zhang
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
| | - Chao Han
- Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Liang Huang
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
| | - Liming Shen
- Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Hongyan Li
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- Department of Pharmacological and Toxicological Research Centre, No. 210 Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Dalian, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Regenerative Medicine Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Wei Zou
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China
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12
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Zhu L, Zou J, Zhao Y, Jiang X, Wang Y, Wang X, Chen B. ER-α36 mediates cisplatin resistance in breast cancer cells through EGFR/HER-2/ERK signaling pathway. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2018; 37:123. [PMID: 29940998 PMCID: PMC6019204 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-018-0798-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Background ER-α36, a novel ER-α66 variant, has been demonstrated to promote tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer cells. However, the role and mechanisms of ER-α36 in cisplatin resistance of breast cancer cells remain unclear. This study investigates the expression and role of ER-α36 in cisplatin resistance of breast cancer cells and elucidates its underlying mechanisms. Methods The expression of ER-α36 and the proteins involved in nongenomic estrogen signaling was evaluated by western blot analysis. Cisplatin sensitivity was explored by CCK-8 assay, monolayer colony formation assay and apoptosis assays, respectively. ER-α36 siRNAs/shRNAs and overexpression vector were transfected into cells to down-regulate or up-regulate ER-α36 expression. Loss-and gain-of function assays were performed to investigate the role of ER-α36 in cisplatin sensitivity. The interaction between ER-α36 and EGFR/HER-2 were detected using CoIP. A mouse xenograft model of breast cancer was established to verify the role of ER-α36 in vivo. Results ER-α36 is expressed at higher levels in cisplatin-resistant breast cancer cells compared to cisplatin sensitive cells. Cisplatin induced up-regulation of ER-α36 in a dose-dependent manner in breast cancer cells. Overexpression of ER-α36 leaded to cell resistant to cisplatin and knockdown of ER-α36 in cisplatin-resistant breast cancer cells restored cisplatin sensitivity. The up-regulation of ER-α36 resulted in increased activation of nongenomic estrogen signaling, which was responsible for cisplatin resistance. Disruption of ER-α36-mediated nongenomic estrogen signaling with kinase inhibitors significantly inhibited cisplatin-induced expression of ER-α36 and increased cisplatin sensitivity. The in vivo experiment also confirmed that up-regulation of ER-α36 attenuated cisplatin sensitivity in a mouse xenograft model of breast cancer. Conclusions The results for the first time demonstrated that ER-α36 mediates cisplatin resistance in breast cancer cells through nongenomic estrogen signaling, suggesting that ER-α36 may serve as a novel target for cisplatin resistance and a potential indicator of cisplatin sensitivity in breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Jiao Zou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yuanyin Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xiaomei Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xiangwei Wang
- Department of Urology, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Bin Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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13
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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the common primary liver cancer and the third leading cause of cancer related mortality worldwide. It is generally thought that the estrogen-signaling pathway is not related to the development and progression of human HCC. However, accumulating evidences indicate the existence of a rapid estrogen signaling in HCC cells that is able to promote cell growth. However, the receptor that mediates the rapid estrogen signaling in HCC cells has not been established. Previously, our laboratory identified a variant of ER-α, ER-α36, and found that ER-α36 mediates the rapid estrogen signaling such as the activation of the MAPK/ERK signaling in breast carcinoma cells. Our current experiments studied the role of the rapid estrogen signaling mediated by ER-α36 in growth of HCC HepG2 and PLC/PRF/5 cells that highly express ER-α36 and found these cells were strongly responsive to the rapid estrogen signaling. Knockdown of ER-α36 expression in these HCC cells using the shRNA method attenuated their responsiveness to estrogen and destabilized EGFR protein. ER-α36 mediated estrogen-induced phosphorylation of Src and the MAPK/ERK as well as cyclin D1 expression. In addition, there existed an ER-α36/EGFR positive regulatory loop in HCC cells that was important for the maintenance and positive regulation of HCC tumorsphere cells. Our results thus indicated that the rapid estrogen receptor is mediated by ER-α36 in HCC cells through the EGFR/Src/ERK signaling pathway and suggested that the ER-α36/EGFR signaling loop is a potential target to develop novel therapeutic approaches for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui You
- Beijing Shenogen Biomedical Co., Ltd, Beijing, PR China
| | - Kun Meng
- Beijing Shenogen Biomedical Co., Ltd, Beijing, PR China
| | - Zhao-Yi Wang
- Beijing Shenogen Biomedical Co., Ltd, Beijing, PR China.
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14
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Wang X, Zheng N, Dong J, Wang X, Liu L, Huang J. Estrogen receptor-α36 is involved in icaritin induced growth inhibition of triple-negative breast cancer cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2017; 171:318-327. [PMID: 28529129 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2017.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2017] [Revised: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
A sub-class of ER-negative breast cancer that is negative for ER, PR and HER2 expression known as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly malignant and lacks effective treatment. Recently, it has been reported that an isoform of estrogen receptor-alpha ER-α36 is expressed and plays a critical role in development of TNBC. ER-α36 forms a positive regulatory loop with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which promotes malignant growth of TNBC cells. Thus, ER-α36 has been proposed as an important target for development of novel drugs for TNBC. In this study, we evaluated the effects of icaritin, a prenylflavonoid derivant purified from Epimedium Genus, on growth of TNBC cells and examined the possible underlying mechanisms. Our study demonstrated that icartin decreased both ER-α36 and EGFR protein expression, and induced apoptosis in TNBC MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 cells. We also found that icaritin inhibited ER-α36-mediated MAPK/ERK pathway and cyclin D1 induction by estrogen. Our results thus indicated that icaritin has a potential to be developed into a novel therapeutic agent for human TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, PR China
| | - Nan Zheng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, PR China; College of Bioengineering, Wuhan Polytechnic, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430074, PR China
| | - Jing Dong
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, PR China
| | - Xuming Wang
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430056, PR China
| | - Lijiang Liu
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430056, PR China.
| | - Jian Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, PR China.
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15
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Teymourzadeh A, Mansouri S, Farahmand L, Hosseinzade A, Majidzadeh-A K. ER-α36 Interactions With Cytosolic Molecular Network in Acquired Tamoxifen Resistance. Clin Breast Cancer 2017; 17:403-7. [PMID: 28433540 DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2017.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2016] [Revised: 03/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) published data in 2015; breast cancer is the most prevalent and the second leading cause of cancer death among females. As approximately 70% of breast cancer tumor cells are estrogen receptor (ER) positive, primary therapeutic agents such as Anti-estrogens were produced mostly in a way to target this receptor. Anti-estrogen therapies mostly target Estrogen receptor and block its underlying signaling pathways. Nevertheless, resistance to these agents made the condition more complicated. Recently the role of one molecule in the resistance development has been studied in some cases: ER-α36 is a 36 kDa variant of estrogen receptor molecule which is mostly absent in normal breast cells. Its interactions with epidermal growth factor receptors and ER-α66 leads in over-activation and/or over-expression of estrogen-independent pathways and suppression of estrogen-dependent pathways; they all in turn, will maintain tumor cell's growth even in the presence of tamoxifen. In this mini-review, we mainly surveyed different pathways which ER-α36 could lead to tamoxifen resistance. We also briefly mentioned how ER-α36 could switch the growth cascades from estrogen dependent into independent and make this resistance network become even more complicated.
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16
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Gu W, Dong N, Wang P, Shi C, Yang J, Wang J. Tamoxifen resistance and metastasis of human breast cancer cells were mediated by the membrane-associated estrogen receptor ER-α36 signaling in vitro. Cell Biol Toxicol 2016; 33:183-195. [PMID: 27837347 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-016-9365-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The drug resistance and tumor metastasis have been the main obstacles for the longer-term therapeutic effects of tamoxifen (TAM) on estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, but the mechanisms underlying the TAM resistance are still unclear. Here, we demonstrated that the membrane-associated estrogen receptor ER-α36 signaling, but not the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) signaling, might be involved in the TAM resistance and metastasis of breast cancer cells. In this study, a model of ER+ breast cancer cell MCF-7 that involves the up-regulated expression of ER-α36 and unchanged expression of ER-α66 and GPER1 was established via the removal of insulin from the cell culture medium. The mechanism of TAM resistance in the ER+ breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was investigated, and the results showed that the stimulating effect of insulin on susceptibility of MCF-7 to TAM was mediated by ER-α36 and that the expression level of ER-α36 in TAM-resistant MCF-7 cells was also significantly increased. Both TAM and estradiol (E2) could promote the migration of triple negative (ER-α66-/PR-/HER2-) and ER-α36+/GPER1+ breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231. The migration of MDA-MB-231 cells was inhibited by the down-regulated intracellular expression of ER-α36 by transient transfection of specific small interfering RNA, whereas no effect of GPER1 down-regulation was observed. Meanwhile, the effect of TAM on the migration of ER-α36-down-regulated MDA-MB-231 cells was also reduced. Furthermore, it was found that TAM enhanced the distribution of integrin β1 on the cell surface but did not affect the expression of integrin β1 in MDA-MB-231 cells. Collectively, these data suggested that ER-α36 signaling might play critical roles in acquired and de novo TAM resistance and metastasis of breast cancer, and ER-α36 might present a potential biomarker of TAM resistance in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of ER+ breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Gu
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, 2140 Xie Tu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Nian Dong
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou,, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, 2140 Xie Tu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Changgen Shi
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, 2140 Xie Tu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, 2140 Xie Tu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jian Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. .,Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, 2140 Xie Tu Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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17
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Hou J, Deng M, Li X, Liu W, Chu X, Wang J, Chen F, Meng S. Chaperone gp96 mediates ER-α36 cell membrane expression. Oncotarget 2016; 6:31857-67. [PMID: 26396174 PMCID: PMC4741645 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
ER (estrogen receptor)-α36, a variant of human ERα, activates non-genomic cell signaling pathways. ER-α36 on the cell membrane plays a role in breast cancer growth and development, and contributes to tamoxifen resistance. However, it is not understood how cell membrane expression of ER-α36 is regulated. In this study, we investigated the role of cell membrane glycoprotein 96 (mgp96) in the regulation of ER-α36 expression and signaling. We found that the C-terminal domain of mgp96 directly interacts with ER-α36 on the cell membrane of breast tumor cells. This interaction stabilizes the ER-α36 protein, thereby increasing its signaling, which, in turn, increases tumor cell growth and invasion. Moreover, targeting mgp96 with siRNA or monoclonal antibody (mAb) blocks the mgp96-ER-α36 interaction and inhibits breast cancer growth and invasion both in vitro and in vivo. These results provide insights into the modulation of cell membrane ER-α36 expression and suggest that mgp96 could be a potential therapeutic target for ER-α36-overexpressing breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwei Hou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, P.R. China
| | - Mengmeng Deng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, P.R. China
| | - Xin Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, P.R. China
| | - Weiwei Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoyu Chu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, P.R. China
| | - Jing Wang
- Shenogen Pharma Group, Changping District, Beijing 102206, P.R. China
| | - Feng Chen
- Shenogen Pharma Group, Changping District, Beijing 102206, P.R. China
| | - Songdong Meng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, P.R. China
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18
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Liu Y, Huang L, Guan X, Li H, Zhang QQ, Han C, Wang YJ, Wang C, Zhang Y, Qu C, Liu J, Zou W. ER-α36, a novel variant of ERα, is involved in the regulation of Tamoxifen-sensitivity of glioblastoma cells. Steroids 2016; 111:127-133. [PMID: 26898538 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2016.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2015] [Revised: 01/31/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although accumulating evidence has confirmed that adjuvant Tamoxifen (TAM) treatment is able to sensitize glioblastoma cells to radiotherapy and inhibit their proliferation, TAM is not a suitable treatment for all types of glioblastoma cells; furthermore, long-term TAM usage may lead to TAM resistance. Therefore, understanding the underlying molecular mechanism of TAM resistance is necessary in order to improve TAM clinical therapy and the quality of life of patients suffering from glioblastomas. In this study, the significance of ER-α36 to TAM resistance in glioblastoma cells was examined. First, an analysis of ER-α36 expression in two glioblastoma cell lines U87-MG and U251, showed that ER-α36 was anchored to the cytoplasmic membrane of these cells via Caveolin-1. Subsequent experiments investigating the mechanism of TAM-induced inhibition of U87-MG cell growth showed that TAM exerts its effect by inducing apoptosis via a down-regulation of Survivin expression and an up-regulation of Caspase-3 expression. Furthermore, TAM also arrested the cell cycle at S-phase. However, when U87-MG cells were preconditioned with an ER-α36-specific agonist, IC162, this neutralized TAM-induced inhibition of cell growth. This contrasted with the effect of ER-α36 depletion by RNAi, which enhanced TAM-induced inhibition of cell growth. These findings suggest that resistance to TAM involves ER-α36, which probably acts as a negative regulator of TAM-induced inhibition of glioblastoma cell growth. These findings provide a novel insight into the basis of TAM resistance during glioblastoma therapy and a further study is underway to reveal more about the specific molecular mechanisms associated with ER-α36-mediated TAM resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Liang Huang
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China
| | - Xin Guan
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China; Regenerative Medicine Centre, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, China
| | - Hongyan Li
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China
| | - Qi-Qi Zhang
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China
| | - Chao Han
- Regenerative Medicine Centre, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, China
| | - Ya-Jun Wang
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China
| | - Cui Wang
- Dalian Municipal Central Hospital Affiliated of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116000, China
| | - Yejun Zhang
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China
| | - Chao Qu
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Regenerative Medicine Centre, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116011, China.
| | - Wei Zou
- College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China.
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19
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Abstract
Tamoxifen provided a successful treatment for ER-positive breast cancer for the past four decades. However, most breast tumors are eventually resistant to tamoxifen therapy. Extensive researches were conducted to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in tamoxifen resistance, and have revealed that multiple signaling molecules and pathways such as EGFR and HER2 are involved in tamoxifen resistance. Currently, the mechanisms by which tamoxifen sensitive breast cancer cells acquire these signaling pathways and develop tamoxifen resistance have not been elucidated. The identification of ER-α36, a variant of ER-α, that is able to mediate agonist activity of tamoxifen provided great insights into the underlying mechanisms of tamoxifen resistance. In this review, we will discuss the biological function and the possible underlying mechanisms of ER-α36 in tamoxifen resistance and specifically illustrate a novel cross-talk mechanism; positive regulatory loops between the ER-α36 and EGFR/HER2 in tamoxifen resistance. The function and the underlying mechanisms of ER-α36 in tamoxifen resistance of the breast cancer stem/progenitor cells will also be discussed. Finally, we will postulate a novel approach to restore tamoxifen sensitivity in tamoxifen resistant breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yin
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University Medical School, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Zhao-Yi Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University Medical School, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA.
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20
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Pisolato R, Lombardi APG, Vicente CM, Lucas TFG, Lazari MFM, Porto CS. Expression and regulation of the estrogen receptors in PC-3 human prostate cancer cells. Steroids 2016; 107:74-86. [PMID: 26742628 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2015.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Revised: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify the expression, cellular localization and regulation of classic estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ, ER-α36 isoform and GPER in the androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line PC-3. In addition, we evaluated the relative contribution of these receptors to the activation of the ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases) signaling pathway. These four estrogen receptors were detected by Western blot assays and were shown by immunofluorescence assays to localize preferentially in extranuclear regions of PC-3 cells. In addition, treatment with 17β-estradiol (E2) (1 μM) for 24 h led to down-regulation of the classic estrogen receptors, whereas E2 at physiological concentration (0.1 nM) for 24h tended to increase the levels of ERα and ERβ. Furthermore, the ERα-selective agonist PPT selectively increased the expression of ERβ and the ERβ-selective agonist DPN increased ERα levels. None of these treatments affected expression of the ER-α36 isoform. The unusual cytoplasmic localization of the classic estrogen receptors in these cells differs from the nuclear localization in the majority of estrogen target cells and suggests that rapid signaling pathways may be preferentially activated. In fact, treatment with selective agonists of ERα, ERβ and GPER induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation that was blocked by the respective antagonists. On the other hand, activation of ERK1/2 induced by E2 may involve additional mechanisms because it was not blocked by the three antagonists. Taken together, the results indicate that there is a crosstalk between ERα and ERβ to regulate the expression of each other, and suggest the involvement of other receptors, such as ER-α36, in the rapid ERK1/2 activation by E2. The identification of new isoforms of ERs, regulation of the receptors and signaling pathways is important to develop new therapeutic strategies for the castration-resistant prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Pisolato
- Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - A P G Lombardi
- Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - C M Vicente
- Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - T F G Lucas
- Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - M F M Lazari
- Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - C S Porto
- Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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21
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Abstract
Prevailing wisdom is that estrogen receptor (ER)-α mediated genomic estrogen signaling is responsible for estrogen-stimulated cell proliferation and development of ER-positive breast cancer. However, accumulating evidence indicates that another estrogen signaling pathway, non-genomic or rapid estrogen signaling, also plays an important role in mitogenic estrogen signaling. Previously, our laboratory cloned a 36 kDa variant of ER-α, ER-α36, and found that ER-α36 is mainly expressed in the cytoplasm and at the plasma membrane. ER-α36 mediates rapid estrogen signaling and inhibits genomic estrogen signaling. In this review, we review and update the biological function of ER-α36 in ER-positive and -negative breast cancer, breast cancer stem/progenitor cells and tamoxifen resistance, potential interaction and cross-talk of ER-α36 with other ERs and growth factor receptors, and intracellular pathways of ER-α36-mediated rapid estrogen signaling. The potential function and underlying mechanism of ER-α in development of ER-positive breast cancer will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Yi Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Creighton University Medical School, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA.
| | - Li Yin
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Creighton University Medical School, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
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22
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Han S, Zhao B, Pan X, Song Z, Liu J, Gong Y, Wang M. Estrogen receptor variant ER-α36 is involved in estrogen neuroprotection against oxidative toxicity. Neuroscience 2015; 310:224-41. [PMID: 26383254 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Revised: 09/05/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
It is well known that estrogen exerts neuroprotective effect against various neuronal damages. However, the estrogen receptor (ER) that mediates estrogen neuroprotection has not been well established. In this study, we investigated the potential receptor that mediates estrogen neuroprotection and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was chosen as an agent in our study to mimic free radicals that are often involved in the pathogenesis of many degenerative diseases. We found that in human SY5Y and IMR-32 cells, the estrogen neuroprotection against H2O2 toxicity was abrogated by knockdown of a variant of estrogen receptor-α, ER-α36. We also studied the rapid estrogen signaling mediated by ER-α36 in neuroprotective effect and found the PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling mediated by ER-α36 is involved in estrogen neuroprotection. We also found that GPER, an orphan G protein-coupled receptor, is not involved in ER-α36-mediated rapid estrogen response. Our study thus demonstrates that ER-α36-mediated rapid estrogen signaling is involved in the neuroprotection activity of estrogen against oxidative toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Han
- Department of Genetics and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - B Zhao
- Department of Genetics and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - X Pan
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, Shandong, China.
| | - Z Song
- Department of Genetics and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - J Liu
- Department of Genetics and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - Y Gong
- Department of Genetics and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - M Wang
- Department of Genetics and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
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23
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Abstract
About 10 years have passed since the discovery of the estrogen receptor subtype, estrogen receptor alpha 36 (ER-α36). The relationship between cancerous cells and ER-α36 in mediating xenoestrogens (XEs) is a significant issue in the progression and treatment of breast cancer. XEs can combine with classical estrogen receptors and other receptor subtypes especially ER-α36, resulting in activation of nongenomic pathways as well as genomic pathways. Recently, most laboratories have focused on further study into the rapidly nongenomic mechanisms by overexpressing or knocking down ER-α36 in breast cancer cell lines. These rapid responses can induce the deregulation of cell cycle, and then lead to the abnormal proliferation and differentiation by regulating distinct downstream pathways. It appears that ER-α36 is a key factor in increasing risk of breast cancer. However, in several recent studies, the action mechanisms of ER-α36 by XEs in breast cancer cell lines are not always clear. In this review, we firstly summarize the expression pattern and tumor biology of ER-α36, then discuss these related estrogenic effects of ER-α36, and lastly give the predictive and prognostic value of ER-α36 as diagnostic marker by mediating typical XEs in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Liu
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Zhixiang Xu
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Xiaodong Ma
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Bin Huang
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Xuejun Pan
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China.
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24
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Yin L, Pan X, Zhang XT, Guo YM, Wang ZY, Gong Y, Wang M. Downregulation of ER-α36 expression sensitizes HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cells to tamoxifen. Am J Cancer Res 2015; 5:530-544. [PMID: 25973295 PMCID: PMC4396031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2014] [Accepted: 01/20/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tamoxifen provided a successful treatment for ER-positive breast cancer for many years. However, HER2 overexpressing breast cancer cells respond poorly to tamoxifen therapy presumably by pass. The molecular mechanisms underlying development of tamoxifen resistance have not been well established. Recently, we reported that breast cancer cells with high levels of ER-α36, a variant of ER-α, were resistant to tamoxifen and knockdown of ER-α36 expression in tamoxifen resistant cells with the shRNA method restored tamoxifen sensitivity, indicating that gained ER-α36 expression is one of the underlying mechanisms of tamoxifen resistance. Here, we found that tamoxifen induced expression of ER-α36-EGFR/HER2 positive regulatory loops and tamoxifen resistant MCF7 cells (MCF7/TAM) expressed enhanced levels of the loops. Disruption of the ER-α36-EGFR/HER2 positive regulatory loops with the dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor Lapatinib or ER-α36 down-regulator Broussoflavonol B in tamoxifen resistant MCF7 cells restored tamoxifen sensitivity. In addition, we also found both Lapatinib and Broussoflavonol B increased the growth inhibitory activity of tamoxifen in tumorsphere cells derived from MCF7/TAM cells. Our results thus demonstrated that elevated expression of the ER-α36-EGFR/HER2 loops is one of the mechanisms by which ER-positive breast cancer cells escape tamoxifen therapy. Our results thus provided a rational to develop novel therapeutic approaches for tamoxifen resistant patients by targeting the ER-α36-EGFR/HER2 loops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yin
- Departments of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University Medical SchoolOmaha, NE, USA
| | - Xiaohua Pan
- Department of Breast and Thyroid surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong UniversityJinan 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Xin-Tian Zhang
- Departments of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University Medical SchoolOmaha, NE, USA
| | - Yu-Ming Guo
- Departments of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University Medical SchoolOmaha, NE, USA
| | - Zhao-Yi Wang
- Departments of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University Medical SchoolOmaha, NE, USA
| | - Yaoqin Gong
- Department of Genetics and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Shandong UniversityJinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Molin Wang
- Department of Genetics and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Shandong UniversityJinan 250012, Shandong, China
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25
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Deng H, Yin L, Zhang XT, Liu LJ, Wang ML, Wang ZY. ER-α variant ER-α36 mediates antiestrogen resistance in ER-positive breast cancer stem/progenitor cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2014; 144 Pt B:417-26. [PMID: 25158023 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Revised: 05/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that cancer stem cells (CSC) play important roles in breast cancer occurrence, recurrence and metastasis as well as resistance to therapy. However, the roles of breast cancer stem cells in antiestrogen resistance and the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been well established. Previously, we identified and cloned a novel variant of estrogen receptor α, ER-α36, with a molecular weight of 36kDa. ER-α36 mediates rapid antiestrogen signaling and is highly expressed in ER-positive breast cancer stem/progenitor cells. In this study, we investigated the function and the underlying mechanism of ER-α36-mediated antiestrogen signaling in ER-positive breast cancer stem/progenitor cells. ER-positive breast cancer cells MCF7 and T47D as well as variants with different levels of ER-α36 expression were used. The effects of antiestrogens tamoxifen and ICI 182, 780 on breast CSC's ability of growth, self-renewal, differentiation and tumor seeding were examined using tumorsphere formation, flow cytometry, indirect immunofluorences and in vivo xenograft assays. The underlying mechanisms were also analyzed with Western blot analysis. We found that the cancer stem/progenitor cells enriched from ER-positive breast cancer cells were more resistant to antiestrogens than the bulk cells. Antiestrogens increased the percentages of the stem/progenitor cells from ER-positive breast cancer cell through stimulation of luminal epithelial lineage specific ER-positive breast cancer progenitor cells while failed to do so in the cells with knocked-down levels of ER-α36 expression. Our results thus indicated that ER-α36-mediated antiestrogen signaling such as the PI3K/AKT plays an important role in antiestrogen resistance of ER-positive breast cancer stem/progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Deng
- Departments of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University Medical School, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Li Yin
- Departments of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University Medical School, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Xin-Tian Zhang
- Departments of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University Medical School, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Li-Jiang Liu
- Jiangda Pathology Center, Jianghan University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Mo-Lin Wang
- Institute of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Zhao-Yi Wang
- Departments of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University Medical School, Omaha, NE, USA.
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26
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Zhang X, Deng H, Wang ZY. Estrogen activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase is mediated by ER-α36 in ER-positive breast cancer cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2014; 143:434-43. [PMID: 24973581 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Revised: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 06/21/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
It is well known that there are two estrogen-signaling pathways, genomic estrogen signaling and non-genomic or rapid estrogen signaling. Although both ER-α and ER-β have been suggested to mediate both genomic and non-genomic estrogen signaling, rapid estrogen signaling such as activation of the MAPK/ERK signaling in ER-positive breast cancer MCF7 cells has been controversial. Previously, our laboratory cloned a 36kDa variant of ER-α, ER-α36, that is mainly localized at the plasma membrane and is able to mediate rapid estrogen signaling. In this study, we investigated the function and the underlying mechanisms of ER-α36 in rapid estrogen signaling of ER-positive breast cancer cells. ER-positive breast cancer cells MCF7, T47D and H3396 as well as their variants with different levels of ER-α and ER-α36 expression were used to examine estrogen induction of the MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling. The underlying mechanisms were also studied in these cells with the neutralizing antibodies and chemical inhibitors against different growth factors and their receptors. We found that ER-α36 mediated estrogen induction of the MAPK/ERK phosphorylation in ER-positive breast cancer cells while the full-length ER-α failed to do so. The rapid estrogen signaling mediated by ER-α36 involved a orchestrated action of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), amphiregulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), HER2/Neu and Src. Our results thus indicated that ER-α36 is the estrogen receptor that mediates estrogen induction of the MAPK/ERK signaling in ER-positive breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- XinTian Zhang
- Departments of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University Medical School, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Hao Deng
- Departments of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University Medical School, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Zhao-Yi Wang
- Departments of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University Medical School, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, USA.
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27
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Abstract
Estrogen receptor-alpha36 (ER-α36) is a 36-kDa variant of estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-α) firstly identified and cloned by Wang et al in 2005. It lacks both transactivation domains (activation function 1 and activation function 2) and has different biological characteristics compared to traditional ER-α (ER-α66). ER-α36 primarily locates on plasma membrane and cytoplasm and functions as a mediator in the rapid membrane-initiated non-genomic signaling pathway. Additionally, it inhibits the traditional genomic signaling pathway mediated by ER-α66 in a dominant-negative pattern. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that ER-α36 regulates the physiological function of various tissues. Thus, dysregulation of ER-α36 is closely associated with plenty of diseases including cancers. ER-α36 is recognized as a molecular abnormality which solidly correlates to carcinogenesis, aggressiveness, and therapeutic response of breast cancer. Additionally, special attention has been paid to the role of ER-α36 in endocrine therapy resistance. Therefore, ER-α36 provides a novel biomarker of great value for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of breast cancer. It may also be a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer patients, especially for those who are resistant to endocrine therapy. In this review, we will overview and update the biological characteristics, underlying mechanism, and function of ER-α36, focusing on its biological function in breast cancer and endocrine therapy resistance. We will evaluate its application value in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyun Su
- Department of Surgical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Xu
- Department of Surgical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangliang Li
- Department of Surgical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China ; Department of Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingyi Lin
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiang Cao
- Clinical Research Center, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Lisong Teng
- Department of Surgical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
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28
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Yu L, Ke W, Wang Y, Ding W, Wang B, Huang S, Chen J, Wang X, Wang Z, Shen P. Predictive and prognostic value of ER-α36 expression in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. Steroids 2014; 84:11-6. [PMID: 24632025 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2014.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Revised: 02/07/2014] [Accepted: 03/01/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study is to investigate the predictive and prognostic value of ER-α36 expression in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. METHODS ER-α36 expression in 120 breast cancer tumors was assessed by an immunohistochemistry assay. All patients were divided into two groups according to the chemotherapy procedure: group A, 50 patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery; group B, 70 patients who were performed adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery, and they all took at least two cycles of anthracycline-based and/or paclitaxel-based chemotherapy after surgery. The therapy effect on group A patients was evaluated two cycles later by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.0 (RECIST 1.0). RESULTS ER-α36 protein was positively expressed in 51 tumor specimens (42.5%) and no correlation was found between the expression of ER-α 36 and the expression of the full-length ER-α (ER-α66), progesterone receptor (PgR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), Ki-67, tumor sizes, and the numbers of lymph node metastasis. Patients with ER-α36 negative expression tumors treated with the neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a higher remission rate [partial response: stable: progressed (n) 25:3:1 vs.11:9:1; P=0.009], a better response (86% vs. 52%; P=0.009), and a more favorable outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer patients compared to ER-α36 positive patients and ER-α36 negative expression was correlated with DFS in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS ER-α36 negative tumors benefit more from neoadjuvant chemotherapy and have better prognosis, which may warrant further studies with larger size of the sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanfang Yu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, PR China
| | - Wei Ke
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, PR China
| | - Yanli Wang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, PR China
| | - Wei Ding
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, PR China
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, PR China
| | - Sui Huang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, PR China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, PR China
| | - Xiaoting Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, PR China
| | - Zhaoyi Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Peng Shen
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, PR China.
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29
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Wang X, Deng H, Zou F, Fu Z, Chen Y, Wang Z, Liu L. ER-α36-mediated gastric cancer cell proliferation via the c-Src pathway. Oncol Lett 2013; 6:329-335. [PMID: 24137325 PMCID: PMC3789085 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2013.1416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 06/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, a novel variant of estrogen receptor (ER)-α, ER-α36, was identified and cloned and reported to mainly mediate non-genomic estrogen signaling. More recently, we identified that ER-α36 is important for the invasion and lymph node metastasis of human gastric cancer. In the present study, the c-Src signaling pathway was demonstrated to be involved in the non-genomic estrogen signaling mediated by ER-α36 in SGC7901 gastric cancer cells. SGC7901 cells were subjected to the siRNA-mediated knockdown of ER-α36 (PLKO.1-PURO-SP6-ER-α36-L) or transfected with an ER-α36 upregulated expression plasmid (PLJM1-ER-α36-H) and treated with 17β-estradiol (E2β) and PP2, a c-Src protein inhibitor. The expression of ER-α36 and c-src/p-c-Src and cyclin D1 was examined by western blot analysis, and tumor cell growth was analyzed by cell proliferation and nude mouse xenograft assays. The ER variant, ER-α36, was shown to enhance gastric cancer cell proliferation through activation of the membrane-initiated c-Src signaling pathways, indicating that ER-α36 is important for the regulation of proliferation in gastric cancer. In addition, ER-α36 was shown to directly interact with c-Src by immunoprecipitation. The results of the present study indicate that the use of ER-α36 may be a targeted therapeutic approach in gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuming Wang
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Science of Wuhan University, P.R. China
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